Page 23 of Diana Adores the Puzzled Duke

“Tell, tell. Is it about the divine Mr. Robert?” Geoffreyasked.

“More or less,” Diana said, “Come… sit with me so I can tell you. I need to know what youthink.”

They headed to the sitting-room where the tea service was still sitting cold on thetable.

“Now what I have to tell you must be in the strictest of confidence. Do youunderstand?”

They both noddedvigorously.

“Now, I mean it. Do not tell a soul or the literary furies will swoop down and peck out both of your eyes. Understand.Seriously.”

“Oh, come on and tell us. You are beingsodramatic,” Miriaminsisted.

Diana laid out the entirety of Robert’s offer then asked, “What do youthink?”

“But who ishe?”

“Have you read anything he haswritten?”

“He may be a serial killer for all you know,” the twins said all at once, overlapping eachother.

“Now. Now. I know he is not a serial killer. He is the Earl of Donnelly to answer your firstquestion.”

“He is?” they said inunison.

“Our Earl of Donnelly?” Geoffreyasked.

“Yes. And no, I have not read anything he haswritten.”

“But what if it is dreadful and it alienates all yourreaders?”

“I am sure it is not dreadful,” Diana insisted, “otherwise my publisher would not publish him and go to all the trouble of trying to find a surrogate author forhim.”

“Now, that is an excellent point,” Miriam said. Then she added, “and he certainly is romantic himself, is henot?”

“He seemed very attentive to you,” Geoffreysaid.

“Was he? I had not noticed,” Diana replied, but not so sure that what she said wastrue.

“Now you are getting away from the crux of my problem. Do you think it is a good idea for me to let him use my name to publish under? After all, my reputation is at stake, and if something goes wrong I could lose all my readers and what little income I have from mywriting.”

“But what if he finds you wildly attractive and falls madly in love with you, then you would become Lady Donnelly,” Miriamrhapsodized.

“Do not get carried away. You are far too flighty. Come down to earth. This is strictly about a business agreement between the two of us,” Dianainsisted.

“I would not be too certain that is all that is involved here,” Geoffreyhinted.

“You two are evil and wicked. I come to you for sound, practical advice and you ply me with your romanticfantasies.”

“But it could happen,” Miriam insisted. “He is like a white knight out of a dream. And you would be so perfect together. Both writers. Both so lovely looking. I imagine your babies would be dream babiestoo.”

Diana stood up. “Now you are not only ridiculous but also silly, and I am going toleave.”

“Take the offer,” Geoffrey said, matter-of-factly. “It’s a lovely down payment and if the book is successful you will make additional money. How can youlose?”

* * *

Back home,after fleeing the exhausting session with her friends, she calmed herself down by picking up a book and settling in by the fire to read. And after a few moments, she began to feel a little more relaxed when there was a knock again at the frontdoor.